Chapter 273 - That Threshold

Sikong Yan’s words had barely faded when Fu Yiran behind him sprang into action.

The Heaven and Earth Sun-Moon Blade shot forth like a water dragon breaking free from its restraints to attack the two Eastern Depot officers!

The two Eastern Depot officers, tasked with overseeing the Ghostbane Association stronghold, were no ordinary opponents. They had been wary of the intruders ahead even as they descended the mountain, especially the burly old man bearing a weapon. Simply standing there, the imposing aura of the man with a massive blade was impossible to conceal. The officers reacted instantly, each lunging toward Sikong Yan’s shoulders.

"Insolent!" Fu Yiran roared. The Heaven and Earth Sun-Moon Blade swept past Sikong Yan’s shoulder with a forceful flick to force the officers back. Without hesitation, Fu Yiran extended his form, leaping over Sikong Yan to shield his gaunt master.

It was clear to the two officers now that these were dangerous foes. The man on the left narrowed his eyes, cautiously sizing up Fu Yiran as he growled, "Han Linsheng, you four elders of the Ghostbane Association, are you conspiring with external forces? Are you plotting a rebellion?"

The four elders stood behind, their hands tucked into their sleeves, maintaining a disinterested posture as though the matter had nothing to do with them.

"Why are you staying quiet?" the other officer barked, "I will report today’s events to the court. It seems you’ve all grown tired of living!"

A grating laugh rang out. Sikong Yan knew it was Wang Yuegui, the Scarlet Cloak of the Wingless Chamber. He heard the old man’s eerie voice say, "Shen Dadang, are you sure you’ll live long enough to report it?"

The two officers’ expressions changed instantly. Fu Yiran turned slightly and said, "Young master, please step back. Allow me to deal with these two before proceeding to the Hall of Killing Intent."

Sikong Yan smiled faintly, waved a hand, and stepped aside. "You have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn."

Fu Yiran chuckled with a rough warmth, looking at the two before him. "I won’t need that long."

Murderous intent erupted.

Fu Yiran extended his right arm, whirling the Heaven and Earth Blade above his head to form a bright, full-moon arc. The spinning blade shone with a harsh light that made it impossible to keep looking. The two Eastern Depot officers felt a gale rushing toward them, stinging their cheeks painfully. Shen Dadang instinctively tried to retreat, but suddenly a thunderous shout exploded in his ear!

"Where do you think you’re going!?"

The shout startled Shen Dadang so much that his heart nearly stopped. Instinctively, he struck toward the source of the voice near his ear. In the next instant, he felt a chill on his forearm, followed by waves of excruciating pain deep into his bones.

What just happened...?

The pain briefly disoriented Shen Dadang. A pulling force from behind toppled him to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Dazed, he looked up and saw the horrified expression of the other officer, Cheng Yuanming.

"Are you alright?" Cheng Yuanming helped Shen Dadang to his feet.

Only then did Shen Dadang realize it was Cheng Yuanming who had pulled him. Reflexively, he looked at his arm and saw his left arm was severed cleanly at the elbow, with blood gushing uncontrollably.

"So fast..." he muttered, suppressing the pain with lingering fear.

Still on guard against Fu Yiran, Cheng Yuanming whispered to Shen Dadang, "He is too tough for us. I’ll hold him off while you escape. You are faster and more agile than me. Find an opportunity to flee to the capital and report to Eunuch Yue."

Shen Dadang knew this was the only way and solemnly nodded. "It has to be done."

Cheng Yuanming turned to Fu Yiran and asked, "Who... are you people?"

Fu Yiran tilted his head slightly and swept the Heaven and Earth Blade downward, slashing a bloody line across the ground. "I don't have the time to answer your question." He stepped forward, kicking up a storm of dust and shadows as he charged.

"Go!" Cheng Yuanming shouted, throwing himself forward to engage.

Gritting his teeth, Shen Dadang pushed off the ground with his remaining hand, using the force to propel himself into the air. In a flash, he shifted directions three times midair, soaring over the crowd and darting swiftly down the mountain!

As he passed over the heads of the Four Elders, Shen Dadang glanced down. The elders looked up at him calmly, their eyes devoid of emotion, as though they were gazing at a corpse.

What's going on... Don't they realize I'm about to leave?

Shen Dadang wondered in confusion, but before the thought could fade, a sudden sense of danger surged within him. The piercing sound of something tearing through the air came from behind!

Instinctively, Shen Dadang began to turn his head, but before he could look back, he saw something sprout from his chest. The Heaven and Earth Sun-Moon Blade pierced through his back and emerged from his chest, its remaining force pinning him directly to a tree trunk.

Fu Yiran parted the crowd and approached Shen Dadang’s lifeless body, carrying a head still dripping with blood in his hand.

Pulling the Heaven and Earth Blade out of the tree, he kicked the corpse to the ground and then approached Sikong Yan, bowing respectfully. "Young master, let’s proceed up the mountain."

Sikong Yan gestured toward the two corpses. "Skin their faces and turn them into masks. They might come in handy when dealing with the court in the future."

Wang Yuegui, the Scarlet Cloak of the Wingless Chamber, chuckled. "The Wingless Chamber is best at these tasks. Leave it to the youngsters."

Sikong Yan nodded and took the lead, walking up the mountain.

Fu Yiran hastily wiped the blood from the Heaven and Earth Sun-Moon Blade and quickly followed.

Wang Yuegui walked beside Fu Yiran, his gaze fixed ahead. "Your blade hasn’t dulled... has it grown even sharper?"

Fu Yiran grinned. "I was lucky, I suppose."

Wang Yuegui squinted slightly at Sikong Yan’s back ahead and sighed. "You’ve been out in the world for years and your martial skills have advanced ever higher. Unlike the four of us, who have spent most of our time hiding on this island. It’s a blessing if our skills haven’t regressed."

Suddenly, Wang Yuegui shifted the topic, looking at Fu Yiran. "And you... have you touched

that

threshold?"

Fu Yiran pondered for a moment, as if weighing his thoughts. After a while, he shook his head and admitted, "Not yet. It feels like I’m standing just outside the door, but I don’t know how to take that step forward."

Wang Yuegui sighed as well. "Is it truly so difficult? At our age, if even you haven’t stepped through, we may never have hope in this lifetime. Thinking back, if we had managed to capture He Wenxian alive... perhaps we could have gotten something out of him."

"As if he would ever reveal such secrets..." Fu Yiran shook his head. "This isn’t something that can be achieved with just a few hints from someone else. Besides, He Wenxian isn’t the only one in this world who has crossed the door."

"But wasn’t he the one who has gone the farthest beyond the door?" Wang Yuegui countered.

Fu Yiran opened his mouth as if to reply, but then silently nodded, saying nothing more.

"We’ve arrived," Wang Yuegui suddenly announced.

Fu Yiran raised his head and saw a magnificent hall perched atop the cliff ahead.

They had reached the Hall of Killing Intent.